Of the impairment losses on receivables, €74 million (2016: €115 million) pertained to past-due receivables in Brazil.

The expenses related to significant legal risks amounted to €258 million in 2017 (2016: €262 million), which, as in the previous year, primarily included expenses in connection with litigation relating to the produts Xarelto™, Essure™ and Cipro™ / Avelox™.

Miscellaneous operating expenses included donations to charitable causes (all segments) and subsidies for patient assistance programs with government agencies and partners of health care systems (Pharmaceuticals segment) in the amount €52 million (2016: €43 million). A settlement relating to a seed license agreement led to an expense of €14 million (Crop Science segment). Further expenses of €11 million were incurred in connection with intellectual property and patent disputes about a herbicide active ingredient (Crop Science segment). In addition, expenses of €11 million were recorded for restructuring at Currenta GmbH & Co. OHG, Germany (All Other Segments).

The remaining amount of miscellaneous operating expenses comprised a large number of individually immaterial items at the subsidiaries.

In 2016, miscellaneous operating expenses included €34 million for provisions established by the Crop Science segment for environmental protection measures in the United States.